Kangaroo Care: Breastfeeding Success and Maternal Role

NCT07543029 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: GA-E-40465587-050.01.04-1502
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 112
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Purpose: This is a randomized controlled trial designed to investigate the effects of Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) applied in the early postpartum period to primiparous mothers on breastfeeding success and the perception of the maternal role. Methodology and Sample: Setting and Period: The study will be conducted at the Bucak State Hospital Delivery Unit between June 2025 and June 2026. Sample Size: Based on G\*Power analysis (alpha=0.05, power=80%, effect size d=0.566), a total of 112 mothers (56 intervention, 56 control) will be included, accounting for a 10% potential attrition rate. Participants will be assigned to groups using the sealed envelope method and randomization via www.random.org. Intervention: Experimental Group: Following routine care, the newborn will be placed in a "chest-to-chest" position on the mother's bare chest for Kangaroo Care. Intermittent KMC will be maintained for 24 hours, during which breastfeeding attempts will be supported. Control Group: Mothers and newborns will receive only the hospital's routine care (standard skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding support). Data Collection Tools: Personal Information Form, Semantic Differential Scale-Myself as a Mother (to measure maternal role perception), LATCH Breastfeeding Assessment Tool (to evaluate breastfeeding success).

Conditions

Breastfeeding; Maternal Role; Postpartum Care; Kangaroo Care

Keywords

Primiparity; newborn; breastfeeding; maternal role; kangaroo care

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• LATCH Breastfeeding Assessment Tool

  Developed by Deborah Jehsen and Sheila Wallace in 1993 to assess breastfeeding, it consists of five parameters, each item scored between 0 and 2 points. The highest possible score on the scale is 10, and the lowest is 0. The validity and reliability of the LATCH Breastfeeding Assessment Tool in Turkey was determined by Yenal and Okumuş in 2003, and it was found to be valid and reliable for the Turkish population. The validity and reliability coefficient of the LATCH scale is alpha 0.82. The scale, consisting of 5 evaluation criteria, is formed by combining the first letters of the English words LATCH. The criteria are as follows; L: Latch on breast A: Audible swallowing T: Type of nipple C: Comfort breast/nipple. H: Baby holding position

  8 month

• Semantic Difference Scale - Self-Assessment as a Mother

  Developed by Walker et al. (1986), this scale was designed to measure the evaluation dimensions of the concept of "self-assessment as a mother." The adaptation of the scale to Turkish society was done by Çalışır (2003). The scale consists of 11 pairs of opposing adjectives, distributed among 22 items. Each adjective pair is scored from 1 to 7. Three items (3, 7, 8) are evaluated using a reverse scoring system to prevent biased scoring by participants. A high total score on the scale indicates a positive self-assessment of motherhood (Walker et al., 1986). While Walker found the internal consistency coefficient to be between 0.81-0.85, Çalışır found the Cronbach Alpha internal consistency coefficient to be between 0.73-0.74 (Çalışır, 2003).

  8 month

Study Arms (2)

Kangaroo

EXPERIMENTAL

Mothers in this group will receive intermittent Kangaroo Mother Care (chest-to-chest contact) for 24 hours postpartum.

Behavioral: Kangaroo Mother Care

Control

NO INTERVENTION

Mothers in this group will receive standard hospital postpartum care protocols, including routine skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding support.

Interventions

Kangaroo Mother Care BEHAVIORAL

Newborns will be placed in an upright chest-to-chest position on the mother's bare chest. This intermittent skin-to-skin contact will be applied in sessions according to the mother's and newborn's stability and comfort, and will be maintained at regular intervals throughout the first 24 hours postpartum.

Kangaroo

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 49 Years
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• For mothers:
• It must be the mother's first birth,
• Birth must have been vaginal,
• The mother must be healthy,
• The mother must voluntarily participate in the study,
• The mother must not have any communication-impairing conditions (language, cognitive problems, etc.),
• For babies:
• Birth weight must be between 2500-4000 grams;
• The newborn must be healthy,
• Exclusively breastfed,
• The newborn must be at term gestation (38-42 weeks),
• The newborn's Apgar score at 1 and 5 minutes must be above 7,
• The newborn must not have any health problems that could affect breastfeeding (cleft palate, cleft lip, esophageal atresia, etc.).

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Recep Tayyip Erdogan University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Bucak State Hospital

Rize, Turkey (Türkiye)

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Breast Feeding

Interventions

Kangaroo-Mother Care Method

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Feeding Behavior; Behavior

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Patient Positioning; Patient Care; Therapeutics; Infant Care; Child Care; Health Services; Health Care Facilities Workforce and Services

Study Officials

• Gamzegül ALTAY, PhD

  Recep Tayyip Erdogan University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Gamzegül ALTAY, Assistant Professor

CONTACT

+90 464 2141059; gamzegul.altay@erdogan.edu.tr

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assistant Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: April 14, 2026
• First Posted: April 21, 2026
• Study Start: June 1, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): June 30, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 30, 2026
• Last Updated: April 28, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-04

Locations

TU (1)